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Palace on Marcos burial ruling: Time to move forward

'It's about time the nation moves on and confronts the more pressing concerns of the country rather than linger on an emotional issue that is unproductive as it is divisive,' says Chief Presidential Counsel Salvador Panelo

MOVE ON. Malacañang hopes the Supreme Court ruling on a state interment for the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos would help Filipinos 'move on.' Photo by LeAnne Jazul/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang on Tuesday, November 8, expressed hope that the Supreme Court ruling in favor of a hero’s burial for former president Ferdinand Marcos would finally allow Filipinos to "move forward."

"We hope the matter will finally be laid to rest, and that the nation find the wherewithal to move forward and to continue forging a nation that is peaceable, just and fair to all," Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a statement he released to media shortly after the SC officially announced its verdict.

President Rodrigo Duterte’s chief counsel said the SC ruling would finally move the nation away from an “unproductive” issue that has divided the country for decades.

“It's about time the nation moves on and confronts the more pressing concerns of the country rather than linger on an emotional issue that is unproductive as it is divisive,” Chief Presidential Counsel Salvador Panelo said in a statement in response to news reports on the SC ruling later officially announced by the High Court.

Panelo said that “as expected,” the decision of the High Court “validates our theory that the law and the regulations allow the burial of ex-Presidents and soldiers in the Libingan ng mga Bayani.”

“Hopefully, the decision will put to rest the opposition to the burial of Marcos,” said Panelo.

In an interview on ANC, Solicitor General Jose Calida said he believed that the "primordial reason" behind the SC ruling was the petioners' "failure to prove the grave abuse of discretion of President Rodrigo Duterte in allowing the interment of the remains of former president Marcos at the LIbingan."

Calida also said in a statement that the ruling is a major step towards national reconciliation as "it puts to rest the bitter debate which has divided our people for far too long."

During the presidential campaign President Rodrigo Duterte had promised the Marcoses – who supported his bid – a hero's burial for the late strongman if he won.

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Welcome to Rappler, a social news network where stories inspire community engagement and digitally fuelled actions for social change. Rappler comes from the root words "rap" (to discuss) + "ripple" (to make waves).